Summary
Praise for the previous edition:
"...a useful compendium of all that is currently known about Salinger and his writings."—American Reference Books Annual
"Because of the enduring interest in Salinger's work, both in and outside the classroom, this title would be a good addition to academic and large public libraries."—Booklist
"Recommended."—Choice
J. D. Salinger, who died in January 2010, was not only one of the greatest American writers of the 20th century-he was also one of the most mysterious. His novel The Catcher in the Rye has influenced generations of Americans, and his stories and novellas are widely read and taught in schools.
With a wealth of new, updated, and greatly expanded content, Critical Companion to J. D. Salinger, Second Edition is a comprehensive eBook that examines the life and work of this reclusive author as well as some of the themes that can be found in his writing.
Coverage includes:
- A concise but thorough biography of Salinger, complete with coverage of events that took place after his 2010 death including the discovery of new manuscripts, copyright fights, and the evolution of Salinger's legacy
- Entries on all of Salinger's works, including The Catcher in the Rye, the classic stories in the collection Nine Stories (including "A Perfect Day for Bananafish"), Franny and Zooey, "Raise High the Roof Beam, Carpenters," and more. Each entry contains subentries on the work's main characters (including Holden Caulfield, Seymour Glass, and more). New to this edition is a detailed overview of Salinger's posthumous publications
- Entries on related people, places, and topics, such as Franz Kafka, Central Park, The New Yorker, and Zen Buddhism
- Newly updated appendixes, including a chronology, a bibliography of Salinger's works, and a secondary source bibliography.
About the Author(s)
Bruce F. Mueller holds an M.A. in English literature and creative writing from San Francisco State University. He is an independent Salinger scholar living in San Francisco.
Will Hochman was professor of English at Southern Connecticut State University and received his Ph.D. from New York University. He was the coeditor of Letters to J. D. Salinger.